HIV/AIDS: Questions to Ask Your Doctor

Get the most out of your visit to the doctor.

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While your doctor usually asks the questions during an exam, you can take charge by asking the right questions about HIV. and AIDSBeing proactive can make a big difference in the way you manage your health with HIV and AIDS. Your well-being is important to you and your doctor, so don't hesitate to inquire about your HIV or AIDS diagnosis, your symptoms, your HIV or AIDS medication or other treatments, treatment side effects, whether complementary or alternative therapies might help, emotional issues, concerns about paying for your treatment, or diet and lifestyle considerations.

Engaging in a dialogue with your doctor will help educate you about HIV and AIDS and the treatments available to you, and it'll give your doctor a better sense of who you are and how HIV or AIDS is affecting your overall health and your life. With the lines of communication open, you and your doctor will be able to develop a treatment plan that meets your needs.

But remember, your time with your doctor is limited, so be sure to arrive at your appointment prepared and ready to discuss HIV and AIDS and the questions that are important to you. Start by:

Researching HIV and AIDS. It's a good idea to get a better understanding of HIV and AIDS before your appointment. Through research, you'll probably be able to answer some of your own questions. Visit Everyday Health's HIV/AIDS Center, AIDS.gov, AIDSinfo, and MedlinePlus.

Strategizing. Your family doctor may not be able to answer all your questions about HIV and AIDS; some questions may be better addressed by an infectious-disease specialist or another physician who specializes in treating people with HIV and AIDS. Discuss this with your doctor, set up a plan for addressing your concerns, and follow up with a specialist or do additional research, as directed by your doctor.

Note taking. Consider keeping a journal of your HIV and AIDS concerns between doctor's visits, and share any relevant information with your doctor about your HIV or AIDS symptoms, such as fever, headache, fatigue, sore throat, coughing, swollen lymph glands or nodes, weight loss, or diarrhea. Let your doctor know if certain lifestyle changes are improving or worsening your symptoms, if you're experiencing any other complications related to your condition or treatment, and if you have any medication concerns, such as questions about side effects you may be experiencing. Additionally, taking notes or recording what your doctor says during your appointments will help you remember important details after your visit.

HIV/AIDS Causes, Testing, and Diagnosis

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks and compromises your immune system. While there have been significant strides in treating the disease and many people are living longer, healthier lives after diagnosis, it is still a serious, chronic condition that requires efforts to keep your immune system strong.

If you believe you've been exposed to HIV but you haven't been formally diagnosed, talk to your doctor about arranging for an HIV test, such as the standard HIV test, a rapid HIV test, a home blood sample collection test kit, or a urine or oral HIV test.

Once you have a formal diagnosis, your doctor will give you information about the condition and discuss treatment options. The treatment for HIV and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) will depend on the severity of your infection, how strong your immune system is, the strain of HIV you have, your overall health, and whether you have any other illnesses, such as hepatitis C (HCV), opportunistic infections, cancer, and STDs. Your doctor and the rest of your HIV and AIDS treatment team will help you determine the best course of treatment for your condition. You will most likely have questions and concerns about your diagnosis and how HIV and AIDS will affect your health and your life.

Consider asking your doctor the following:

What are the differences among the various HIV and AIDS tests? Which test do you recommend for me and why?

What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?

If I know I've been exposed to HIV - should I get postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) treatment to prevent infection? What does that involve?

Does a negative test for HIV always mean no infection, or is a repeat test advisable for very recent exposures?

Do I need additional diagnostic tests and evaluations, such as baseline measurements, urinalysis, or kidney or liver function tests?

Is there anything I need to do to prepare for the diagnostic tests?

How severe is my HIV or AIDS, and what's my prognosis?

How healthy is my immune system, and how will you monitor it?

How long might I be able to maintain my health with HIV?

What are T-cell (CD4) and viral load counts? What does PCR mean?

How will you monitor my T-cell (CD4) and viral load counts, and how often?

What caused my HIV or AIDS?

Do HIV and AIDS put me at risk for other complications or diseases, such as opportunistic infections (infections that are usually harmless in healthy people but are damaging to those with an impaired immune system), pneumonia, tuberculosis, herpes, and cancer? How can I avoid these additional illnesses?

How will I know if I'm coming down with an opportunistic infection?

What is HIV/AIDS-related cancer?

What HIV/AIDS treatment options are available?

What treatments do you recommend for me and why?

What are the risks associated with these treatments?

How will my quality of life be affected by these treatments?

What do I need to do to prepare for these treatments?

What are the side effects associated with HIV/AIDS treatment?

What should I do if my side effects worsen, or if I experience new side effects?

How will my condition be monitored, and how will I know if the treatment is working?

What kind of follow-up tests, etc., should I expect after treatment, and how often will I need them?

Are you experienced in treating patients with HIV and AIDS?

What other kinds of specialists should be on my HIV/AIDS team? Should I consider a hematologist, an infectious-diseases specialist, a nutritionist, a nurse, a social worker, a pharmacist, or a psychiatrist or psychologist?

Should I consider participating in clinical trials with other patients who have HIV and AIDS? Why or why not?

What can I do to keep my immune system strong and to stay as healthy as possible?

How can I avoid transmitting HIV to others?

Additional Questions for Women to Ask

Does HIV or AIDS affect women differently from men?

Will HIV or AIDS put me at a higher risk for other conditions, such as vaginal yeast infections, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), human papillomavirus (HPV), and cervical cancer?

Does an HIV diagnosis mean I can't have children?

Can a combination of antiretroviral therapy and interventions during pregnancy, labor, and delivery prevent HIV transmission from mother to baby?

How is HIV or AIDS likely to affect my baby if I am (or become) pregnant?

How does pregnancy affect an HIV or AIDS condition?

Do I need a women's health HIV specialist, such as a gynecologist or obstetrician who specializes in treating patients with HIV or AIDS?

How can I be sure I won't transmit HIV to my kids?

HIV/AIDS Medications

Your doctor will probably prescribe a number of medications to manage your symptoms and slow the progression of your disease. The medication regimen for treating HIV and/or AIDS can get quite complicated, so it's especially important that you clarify it with your doctor, ask any questions you have about the medications, read the inserts the pharmacy includes with your prescriptions, and take the medications as directed. Knowing how your medications are supposed to work will help you evaluate their effectiveness and whether they're right for you.

Here are some questions you may want to ask your doctor about HIV and AIDS medications:

Will I need to take medication as part of my treatment?

Is medication necessary if I'm feeling fine?

How often and for how long will I need to take medication?

What types of drugs will you prescribe, and how do they work?

Where can I get more information about these drugs?

Do I need drug-resistance testing?

How will anti-HIV or antiretroviral drugs help me?

What are reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors, and how do they work?

What are protease inhibitors, and how do they work?

What are fusion inhibitors, and how do they work?

How will the medications make me feel, and how will I know if they're working?

When can I expect an improvement in my symptoms?

What kinds of challenges might I face when it comes to taking multiple HIV or AIDS medications? Can you offer any advice on how to adhere to my medication regimen?

What are the risks if I don't take my medications as directed, or if I forget to take them?

Have these medications been tested in people with HIV and AIDS? Are there any recent clinical studies on them? Are there any side effects I should be aware of?

What should I do if I experience any side effects? Are there any that may require me to call a doctor? Are there any that may require me to stop taking the medication immediately?

Are these drugs habit-forming?

Can I take them on an empty stomach, or should they be taken with food?

Could these medications interact negatively with other medications I'm taking?

It's natural to experience feelings of depression, frustration, anger, fear, anxiety, and loneliness when you have a life-threatening disease, and the social stigma associated with HIV and AIDS can make coping with this condition even more difficult. However, there is a large network of support for people with HIV and AIDS. Your doctor can help you deal with the emotional stress of HIV and AIDS while managing your symptoms. He or she can also put you in touch with social workers, support groups, and other mental health professionals who can offer additional support. Find out what else you can do to improve your emotional health while living with HIV or AIDS.

What should I do if I think - or if family and friends say - I'm in denial about my diagnosis?

How do I know whether depression and stress are adversely affecting my health?

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is one of the best ways to stay in good overall health with HIV and AIDS. Participating in a physical fitness regimen, following a balanced diet, getting adequate rest and sleep, quitting smoking, moderating your alcohol consumption, and avoiding substance abuse of any kind can all help keep your immune system strong. Check with your doctor to see whether you need to make any lifestyle changes at home, work, or school to better manage your HIV or AIDS:

Will I need to make any lifestyle changes to better manage my HIV o AIDS or my treatment?

How will HIV/AIDS treatment affect my daily life?

How can I keep my immune system strong?

Do I need to make any changes in diet or exercise or how much I rest?

Do I need to pay special attention to my nutrition?

Can drinking alcohol, smoking (or being exposed to secondhand smoke), or using drugs affect my condition?

How should I explain my condition to my spouse or partner, family, and friends?

What's the best way to talk to my children about my illness?

What, if anything, should I say to my boss and co-workers?

How is my condition likely to affect my relationships, and what can I do to improve my situation?

Should I make any special accommodations for school, home, or my work?

What should I do if I feel I'm being discriminated against at work or school?

Can you recommend any good books, magazines, organizations, or online resources that focus on HIV and AIDS?

Financial Health

The costs associated with your HIV and AIDS treatment may have a significant impact on your finances. It's crucial to find ways to balance your physical health with your financial health. Ask your doctor about ways in which you may be able to offset the cost of your treatment, and follow up with a representative from your insurance company, as necessary:

Will my treatment be covered by my health insurance plan?

About how much will my treatment cost?

If I choose a complementary or alternative therapy, is it likely to be covered by my insurance? If not, what kind of out-of-pocket costs can I expect?

What are my options if I don't have any health insurance?

Are people with HIV or AIDS eligible for Medicaid or Medicare benefits?

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